Levi Ben Cornell Jr

Retired Connecticut State Trooper Levi ?Ben? Cornell Jr., 72, of Mansfield, died Dec. 24, 2001 in St. Petersburg, Fla.. He was born Dec. 11, 1929 in Northport, Maine, the son of Levi B. Cornell Sr. and Blanche (Flanders) Cornell. He owned and operated Ben?s Fix-it Shop in Mansfield, after his retirement from the CT. State Police. He served as a CT. State Trooper from 1960 to his retirement in 1981; during this time he served as the last Resident State Trooper in Coventry, court liaison officer and was awarded 2 commendations. He was a heavy equipment operator in the Operating Engineers Union and served with the Merchant Marines. He enjoyed driving his 1931 Model A sedan that he and his oldest son recently restored. He had a passion for flying and was a member of AOPA, and volunteered as a Major in the Civil Air Patrol for several years. He loved boating, fishing and riding motorcycles in his earlier years. He was a member of the Irish Club, Moose Club and IOOB and a past member of the Coventry Volunteer Fire Assoc. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Pauline (St. Martin) Cornell, 6 sons; Delbert Cornell of Newington, Robert Cornell and his wife Debra of Coventry, Donn Cornell of Madison, Craig Cornell of Mansfield, Ben Cornell and his wife Jane of Hampton and Willard Cornell of Columbia, 5 grandsons; Sean, Ryan, Scott, Josh and Aaron, 6 granddaughters; Skye, Megan, Keli, Jennie, Stephanie and Julianne, a great grandson Alexander, a half sister Ruth Cornell Adams of MO., 3 step brothers; George, Arthur and Bruce Potter, 2 step sisters; Phyllis Lee and Arlene Cripe and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a brother Robert, a sister Evelyn Baker, his stepmother Gertrude Cornell and a stepbrother Donald Potter. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00pm. The funeral service will be held on Monday at 12:00pm at the First Congregational Church of Coventry, 1171 Main St. (Rte. 31) Coventry with the Rev. Dr. Bruce Johnson officiating. Burial will be private in the New Coventry Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests memorial donations to the Connecticut State Troopers Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dept. of Public Safety, 111 Country Club Rd., P.O. Box 2794, Middletown, CT. 06457. www.potterfh.com